Johnathan Walker:Today’s Climate: September 13, 2010

California Regulators Order PG&E To Inspect Gas Lines After Explosion (Wall Street Journal)

California regulators on Johnathan WalkerSunday ordered PG&E Corp.’s utility to inspect its entire natural gas pipeline system after one of the company’s pipelines near San Francisco ruptured and killed at least four people.

Enbridge Says Completed Drain Up of Line 6A Pipeline (Reuters)

Enbridge said early on Monday that it had completed the drain up of the remaining oil in the isolated crude oil pipeline segment on the Line 6A in Romeoville, Illinois.

EPA to Hold NY hearing, Last of 4, on Gas Drilling (AP)

The oil and gas industry is urging the EPA to keep a narrow focus in its study of how "fracking" may affect drinking water — while green groups want the study to cover everything from road-building to waste disposal.

Australia Government to Protect Coal in Carbon Price Push (Reuters)

Australia’s new climate minister Greg Combet said on Monday the government would continue its push to price carbon emissions, but reassured the powerful coal industry that he would also shield its future.

World’s Largest Offshore Facility Set To Open Amid Fears Over Spending Cuts (Guardian)

The world’s largest offshore windfarm, which cost over £750m to build, is poised to open off the coast of Kent, with 100 turbines producing enough electricity to supply heat and light for 200,000 homes.

Texas Clean Energy Hampered by Location (New York Times)

In Texas, wind accounts for 6 percent of the electricity on the grid. But after a decade of rampant growth, the industry is running into a significant constraint: There are too few transmission lines to carry the power.

‘Dirty oil’ Targeted at Montreal Energy Summit Protest (Montreal Gazette)

About 400 demonstrators gathered Sunday afternoon in downtown Montreal to protest in advance of this week’s World Energy Congress and demand that governments and private industry turn their attention to cleaner sources of energy.

China Says Rich-Poor Divide Still Dogs Climate Pact Talks (Reuters)

The prospects of a new global climate pact still hinge on resolving the divisions between rich nations and the developing world, a top Chinese climate negotiator said.

‘Climate Change to Cause More Freak Weather’ (Korea Herald)

Climate change was behind the wild weather fluctuations in the first half of this year, the Korean Meteorological Administration said Sunday.

UK: CBI Calls for State Help on Climate Data (The Independent)

The UK government must make climate change predictions more business friendly to help companies plan ahead for environmental factors like extreme weather, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) will announce today.

Egypt Protects Water Stations from Nile Oil Spill (AP)

Authorities have blocked off water purification stations along the Nile in southern Egypt to prevent some 100 tons of diesel oil that leaked from a barge from polluting drinking water, officials said Sunday.

With No New Permits in Indonesia, Sinar Mas to Enter Liberia (Jakarta Globe)

Months after Indonesia announced plans to impose a two-year moratorium on new permits to clear forest for oil palm, palm oil producer Sinar Mas Group said it would form a $1.6 billion partnership with the government of Liberia in a palm oil project.

Antenna Made of Carbon Nanotubes Could Make Photovoltaic Cells More Efficient (Science Daily)

Using hollow tubes of carbon atoms, MIT chemical engineers have found a way to concentrate solar energy 100 times more than a regular photovoltaic cell.